ANDY LOVE MP turned the spotlight of his community forum towards North Middlesex Hospital at a packed meeting at Community House earlier this month.

More than 50 people from different community groups, residents associations and tenants associations joined the MP for an in-depth look at the hospital's services and it's plans for the future.

North Mid's Chief Executive, Rose Gibb, gave a presentation to the meeting in which she outlined the recent Commision for Health Improvement's review of the hospital.

The review showed that the hospital was improving steadily. It also singled out the hospital's children's cancer services for particular praise, and re-affirmed the Cancer Unit Accreditation.

Ms Gibb also revealed that when combined, the North Mid's A&E and Walk-in centre is busier than Guy's & St Thomas' in Central London. She confirmed that the relatively high rate of TB in the area was a challenge that the hospital would have to face, including the cause of TB which are poverty-related.

Ms Gibb outlined planned rebuilding of the hospital to form one continuous, modern block with state of the art facilities.

The hospital hopes to secure £73 million from a private investor by 2004, to pay for the plannned changes.